MAMBILIMA constituency member of parliament Jean Chisenga says President Hakainde Hichilema
has not delivered on any of his campaign promises saying that is why she was forced heckle at him.
Two weeks ago, Chsenga’s shrill scream of “ba President Mwachilamo ubufi” as President Hichilema exited Parliament after an address on the application of national values and principles
Chisenga’s scream caught the attention of Head of State’s attention who stopped and chatted with her briefly.
But Muchinga Constituency independent member of parliament Emmanuel Banda has lodged a complaint against Chisenga for branding president Hakainde Hichilema a liar.
In explaining her her actions, Chisenga said she had a duty to remind the President of the campaign promises he made before 2021 elections.
She claims since she was sworn in as a public office holder, she has observed that President Hichilema has never delivered on any of his campaign promises and he has not explained why he has not fulfilled his promises, whenever he addresses parliament.
On March 21, this year Clerk of the National Assembly Cecilia Sikatele had written to Chisenga requesting her to exculpate herself by Monday March 25.
In a letter addressed to Sikatele dated March 25, 2024, Chisenga said the complaint against her for labeling the President as a teller of lies is aimed at muzzling opposition members from expressing themselves in parliament.
The lawmaker explained that her quest to hold the President accountable was not out of spite but a genuine concern of the hardships that masses were faced with.
“Unfortunately, we seem to degenerate into a punitive mind while leaving out a positive
side of things,” Chisenga said.
“It becomes my obligation to step up and place a check on the President so that it becomes imperative for him to take corrective measures and rectify the identified lapses in his provision of National Leadership.”
She said reminding the President of his responsibilities is an established norm and practice within the Commonwealth Legislatures for MPS especially the ones belonging to the Opposition political parties.
“Many MPs agree with the views I had expressed in my short interaction with the President. The only difference is that l elected to pluck my courage to speak out on the important issues which the general public is currently grappling with,” Chisenga stated.
“The statement I made of and about the President when I said “ba President Mwachilamo ubufi” is not and cannot be classified as an accusation as suggested in both the letters from Honourable Banda and the Clerk of the National Assembly.”
Chisenga claimed that the public has drawn a conclusion that most of the UPND’s campaign messages turned out to be deception.
She urged the clerk of the National Assembly and the Speaker not to entertain the complaint as the issue was already sorted out with the President.
“In any event His Excellency himself approached me over my comments and we resolved the issue. I will not take the liberty to disclose the details of our engagement,” Chisenga said.
She denied misconducting herself in the house thereby breaching Standing Order 205 of
the Standing Orders of 2021.
“The alleged misconduct happened after the address, I am of the conviction that the purported complaint by Honorable Banda MP is motivated by misplaced spite, ill intent, bad faith, and lacks any amount of justification,” Chisenga said.
“It is part of the larger scheme aimed at gagging Opposition MPs in the House from enjoying their freedom to independently and effectively participate in the business of the House, and to carry out their Constitutional mandate of representing the people of Zambia who sent them to National Assembly to represent them.”
She added that the complaint lacks merit as it violates her rights from full representing the interests of her constituents in parliament as well as provide checks and balances.
By Mwaka Ndawa
Kalemba March 27, 2024.
